It’s just after school at Vizion All Star Cheerleading’s gymnasium, and coach Beth Johnson is directing a 20-plus group of tweens and teens on how to construct a human pyramid.

For the Vizion cheerleaders — an all-star cheerleading group based in Shelby Township that is comprised of what can best be described as part gymnasts and part acrobats, fused with a traditional cheerleader — it’s a move that’s performed nearly every day, and one that has no doubt helped them advance through a series of competitions in 2012 and 2013.

This month, the Vizion cheerleaders will compete in The Summit, which is the national championship for all-star cheerleading in the United States. It encompasses youth, junior and senior levels; the Vizion groups will complete against 462 teams in 43 divisions at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., on May 4-5. Of all of the teams that vied for a spot at the Summit, only 10 percent of the teams made the cut.

Johnson will be taking several groups of cheerleaders, or 70 young people, to the competition and Florida.

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“I’m really proud of the work we’ve been doing; the teams have practiced really hard,” said Johnson. “We’re going to do really well in Florida.”

Coming off of the sidelines

All Star cheering differs from school-based sideline cheering in that participants cheer for themselves — not for another sports team.

Teams are divided up by age and ability; Vizion’s programs are designed to include every student who enrolls, which encourages team-building, self-esteem and maximum participation. Teams can include both girls and boys.

From a physical perspective, all stars perform feats that far exceed those seen on the sidelines. Students learn skills derived from several other disciplines, including gymnastics, dance and stunting. All-star cheerleading gyms are generally a Pom Pon free zone because the sport focuses on athleticism, Johnson said.

The Vizion All Stars compete year-round, along with other teams that consistently excel in the sport. The team has traveled throughout the United States for various competitions.

What is unusual is that each child who enrolls — Vizion’s students are between about 9 and 15 years old — can play a role based on his or her strengths.

“We don’t have anyone that doesn’t participate, and we can play to a student’s specific strengths,” Johnson said.

Most recently, the Vizion team took three teams to the Infinity Athletic Championship in Columbus, Ohio, where they won three full-paid bids to the Summit competition. The team won four awards, including two grand championship honors and recognition for the best pyramid and best stunts. Their gym also won $2,000, Johnson said.

A new spin on cheering

Johnson owns the Vizion gym along with her husband, Charles Davis, who played football at Purdue University and in the NFL.

A former cheerleader herself throughout her tenure at Lakeshore High School, Johnson’s college cheering career was cut short when an injury sidelined her before she took home field at the University of Detroit for the first time. But she continued to coach cheerleaders, and in 2008, Vizion opened in a 9,000-square-foot facility at the Danville Technology industrial area near 23 Mile Road and Schoehnerr. The couple’s goal was to bring cheerleading to the forefront as a team sport in Macomb County.

“The kids learn a lot here — they learn teamwork and athletic skills, and they make friends,” she said. “All of our parents are active in fundraisers and events, and it’s a family atmosphere.”

The cheerleaders represent a board cross section of Macomb County middle and high schools because enrollment is open to young people.

“I really like coming here because it’s so much fun, and I don’t think I’d want to take part in another sport,” said Cameron Taylor, 11, who is the team’s sole male cheerleader.

Peyton Placidi, 15, said she enjoys the warm and supportive environment at Vizion. “At this rate, I think I probably have more friends here than I do at school,” she said. “That’s the best part of it, but I also like the competitions.”

Cameron’s mother, Christina Taylor, said her son and daughter, 13-year-old Chelsey, get a lot out of all star cheerleading that they wouldn’t get anywhere else.

“One of the best things about the all-stars is that they get to meet other young people that they have something in common with,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity.”